THE BULLETIN BOARD
December 2007
[December 28th]First Retiree Chapter Christmas Party and Membership Meeting Photos
The PMAPWU Retiree Chapter, officially chartered in March, held its first Christmas Party along with its December Membership Meeting on the 13th. It was the largest turnout for a chapter meeting this year, in spite of the pouring rain and cold temperatures.
If you'd like to take a look at the photos from the Christmas Party and Meeting, visit the Retiree Chapter Photo Gallery page.
[December 27th]USPS CFO: Corporate Mentality
Excerpted from an article by Vince Ryan at CFO.com
Four months after former Whirlpool executive Glen Walker landed the USPS CFO job, Congress sent him a welcome basket in the form of The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006.
"It was a lot of rules and regulations," says Walker. "CPI is now at 2.5% — our costs have to stay under that level."
But expense cutting is the short-term focus. Since 79 percent of the USPS's total cost base is labor, and the agency's union contracts prevent layoffs, Walker has pushed to reduce the use of overtime.
Working with Deputy Postmaster General and COO Pat Donahoe, he is slicing the $5 billion annually spent on excess hours by conducting biweekly operating reviews and developing models to match expected mail volume with the assignment of postal carriers. Walker is also targeting misuse of sick leave. "A tenth of a point reduction in the percentage of employees taking sick leave is $50 million," he says.
Read the entire article at CFO.com
[December 1st]PTFs in Large Offices Eliminated as of Dec. 1
Excerpted from APWU News Bulletin #14-2007
"Dec. 1, 2007, will be a historic day for postal labor," APWU President William Burrus declared this week. "It marks the elimination of part-time flexible employment for the Clerk Craft in large offices.
"As the result of contract negotiations, Clerk Craft PTFs will disappear as a job category in every postal installation of 200 work-years or more," Burrus noted. "This has been a long-standing objective of postal employees, and it has finally been achieved."
According to the information provided by the USPS, 440 facilities qualify as 200 work-year offices. The measure is based on the 12 months preceding the beginning of a new National Agreement, and remains in effect for the life of the contract.
The date for PTF conversions is also the date that USPS offices must adhere to limitations on the number of casuals that may be employed. The grace period proscribed in the 2006 Collective Bargaining Agreement for the allowable number of casuals expires Nov. 30, 2007.
Read the full story at the APWU's online News Bulletin pages.
[December 1st]Health Benefits Open Season, November 12 - December 11, 2007
The 2007 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Open Season is scheduled for November 12 through December 11, 2007, 5:00 p.m. CT. Many open season changes may be made via self-service on PostalEASE. During this open season, eligible employees may make any one, or a combination of, the following changes:
- Enroll if not enrolled.
- Cancel enrollment.
- Change from one plan to another plan.
- Change from one option to another option.
- Change from Self Only to Self and Family.
- Change from Self and Family to Self Only.
Enrollment changes and new enrollments made during the 2007 open season will be effective January 5, 2008 (pay period 02-08). New premium payments will be reflected in paychecks dated January 25, 2008.
[December 1st]Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) Open Season will be held from November 12 to December 11, 2007, closing at 11:59 p.m. ET. Employees will receive a mailing to their addresses of record with complete program information about this new pretax group insurance offering.
During this open season, eligible employees may elect dental insurance, vision insurance, or both via the portal at www.benefeds.com. Employees without access to a computer may call 877-888-FEDS (877-888-3337). Employees who are deaf or hard of hearing may place a TTY call to 877-889-5680.
New enrollments made during the 2007 FEDVIP Open Season will be effective December 31, 2007.
Past Issues of the Bulletin Board
[November 2007]
[October 2007] [September 2007]
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